RTX 4090 vs GTX 680
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | RTX 4090 | GTX 680 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3DMark Time Spy | 33,032 | 1,137 | +2,805.2% |
| Avg FPS @ 1080p | 240 | 27 | +788.9% |
| Avg FPS @ 1440p | 153 | 14 | +992.9% |
| Avg FPS @ 4K | 87 | 7 | +1,142.9% |
| FP32 compute (TFLOPS) | 82.6 | 3.3 | +2,440.9% |
| VRAM | 24 GB GDDR6X | 2 GB GDDR5 | — |
| Memory bandwidth (GB/s) | 1,008 | 224 | +350.0% |
| TDP (W) | 450 | 195 | — |
| Launch MSRP (USD) | $1,599 | $499 | +220.4% |
- RTX 4090 averages 153 fps at 1440p versus 14 fps — about 993% faster.
- GTX 680 draws less power (195W vs 450W).
Verdict: RTX 4090 or GTX 680?
RTX 4090 advantages
- 1440p gaming (+91%)
- 4K gaming (+92%)
- Synthetic benchmark performance (+97%)
- Video memory (+92%)
- Memory bandwidth (+78%)
GTX 680 advantages
- Power efficiency (+57%)
- Affordability (+69%)
Which should you choose?
- Choose the RTX 4090 if you game at 1440p.
- Choose the GTX 680 if you want lower power draw, heat and noise.
- Choose the RTX 4090 if you game at 4K or drive a high-resolution display.
Value for money
RTX 4090 delivers more performance per dollar, making it the better value of the two at their listed prices.
RTX 4090 vs GTX 680: which should you choose?
RTX 4090 — NVIDIA desktop graphics card (2022, Ada Lovelace) with 24 GB of GDDR6X, averaging 153 fps at 1440p; launched at $1,599.
GTX 680 — NVIDIA desktop graphics card (2012, Kepler) with 2 GB of GDDR5, averaging 14 fps at 1440p; launched at $499.
RTX 4090 vs GTX 680: RTX 4090 is faster for gaming. RTX 4090 averages 153 fps at 1440p versus 14 fps — about 993% faster. GTX 680 draws less power (195W vs 450W).
1080p, 1440p and 4K
At 1440p — the most common enthusiast resolution — the RTX 4090 averages 153 fps against 14. At 4K (87 vs 7 fps) VRAM (24GB vs 2GB) and memory bandwidth matter more.
Power and value
Board power is 450 W versus 195 W, which affects PSU headroom, case cooling and noise. At launch MSRPs of $1,599 vs $499, weigh the frame-rate lead against price and power draw for your target resolution.
The verdict
Both are credible choices in the graphics card comparison space; the specification table above lays out every metric so you can weigh the trade-offs that matter to you. Pick the one whose strengths line up with how you will actually use it.
Frequently asked questions
Is the RTX 4090 better than the GTX 680?
RTX 4090 takes the overall edge, though GTX 680 wins in specific areas worth weighing. RTX 4090 averages 153 fps at 1440p versus 14 fps — about 993% faster.
What is the main difference between the RTX 4090 and the GTX 680?
RTX 4090 averages 153 fps at 1440p versus 14 fps — about 993% faster. GTX 680 draws less power (195W vs 450W).
Which is better value?
RTX 4090 delivers more performance per dollar, making it the better value of the two at their listed prices.
Which should I choose?
Choose the RTX 4090 if you game at 1440p. Choose the GTX 680 if you want lower power draw, heat and noise.
Methodology
Graphics cards are compared on 3DMark Time Spy scores, average gaming frame rates at 1080p/1440p/4K, FP32 compute throughput, VRAM capacity and type, memory bandwidth, board power (TDP) and launch MSRP — plus AI workload throughput (Stable Diffusion iterations/s and local LLM tokens/s) where measured. Vintage and server GPUs without modern benchmark results are compared on specifications only, clearly labelled. Frame rates are averages across a game suite at high settings; specific titles vary.